898 PROPOSED APPLICATIONS OF SMITHSON'S BEQUEST. 



have in view, money will be indispensably wanted. I have, 

 in the beginning of this letter, explained that I think the 

 Government is interested in assisting you, and I believe 

 that they have the means fully in their power. I have 

 always been of opinion that it was such an institution as 

 yours, at the seat of Government, that Mr. Smithson had 

 in view when he made his munificent legacy to the United 

 States. He could not mean, in my opinion, that his money 

 should be applied to the promotion of any specific brand) 

 of knowledge, much less to the foundation of a school or 

 an academy. His views were more extensive. He wished 

 to promote science in all its branches and departments, and 

 therefore, he wished his institution to be fixed at the seat of 

 Government; from whence, as from a center, the rays of 

 science might be diffused throughout the whole country. 

 And, therefore, Congress cannot find a bettvr opportunity 

 to execute the will of that beneficent testator than by laying 

 hold of your institution, and making it its own. 



Here let me be understood. I do not mean that Congress 

 should immediately put into your hands the large legacy of 

 Mr. Smithson, to erect with it grand buildings, make a great 

 parade, and fail in the end, as so many others have done. 

 That cannot be expected to be done until your society has 

 become firmly established on a solid basis, and has acquired 

 that high reputation which I hope it will always have in 

 view in the learned world ; but, in the mean time, Congress 

 might, out of the interest, aid your exertions in proportion 

 to your progress, and, at least, in the beginning, enable you 

 to make those publications without which you cannot well 

 expect to proceed. Thus your institution would grow under 

 their fostering hand, and, in process of time, that great de- 

 sign of Mr. Smithson would be completely fulfilled. I say, 

 in process of time, for time will certainly be required, be- 

 fore you can rise to the rank in science which you may 

 justly keep in view. In my opinion, you should not attempt 

 too much at once, but proceed gradually and systematically, 

 being satisfied with every year showing to the world some 

 progress, but not imagine that your institution, as I hope 

 it will one day be, will come out at once, fully armed, like 

 Minerva, from the head of Jupiter. Trust, therefore, to 

 time, but let it be aided by your zeal, your activity, and, 

 above all, by your energy. Energy is the soul of all great 

 undertakings, but it must be continued, and never suffered 

 to flag. 



Here you have, in as brief a space as I could condense 

 them, my opinions, my wishes, and my hopes. Let me, 



